Pralhad Joshi: Speaker to decide LoP status to Congress

HUBBALLI / DHARWAD: The new speaker will take a call on giving the position of leader of opposition (LOP) status to Congress, said Union minister for parliamentary affairs, mines and coal Pralhad Joshi.
Speaking to reporters at his residence here on Saturday, he said the Union government has not taken a decision on the issue. “There are rules and regulations regarding giving LOP status to the opposition party which must to be followed. The government will follow the rules in this regard,” he said.
Reacting to senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s statement that he would challenge the leader of the opposition rule if his party permits him, Joshi said, “Congress has won 52 seats in the election. It is too early to comment on his statement.”
Joshi said the Centre was planning to bring bills on more than 10 ordinances including on triple talaq and continuation of governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that there were more than 10 bills waiting for the parliament’s approval.
The minister said his challenge was that Parliament should function smoothly. “We are reaching out to opposition leaders and is requesting them to allow smooth functioning of the session. During the election, leaders exchanged words and it should not deter the functioning of Parliament now. The house should do good business, debates should be held and bills should be passed for the betterment of people,” said Joshi.
Joshi gave enough hints that an amendment to scrap Article 370 would not be brought to Parliament in this session. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah are in talks and a suitable step in this regard will be taken at an appropriate time,” he said.
Joshi condemned chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s village stay plan and called it a political stunt to divert the attention of the public from genuine problems.
The new minister added that the state cabinet decision of selling land in Torangallu to Jindal Steel was fishy and it should be probed.
‘Centre ready to help state’
Meanwhile in Dharwad, Joshi said the Centre was ready to help Karnataka implement development programmes if the state sends proposals.
Joshi said the state’s coalition government should concentrate on taking up development work and prepare proposals to be sent to the Centre for financial assistance before the Lok Sabha session begins on June 17. He said Congress and JD(S) should shun their differences and instead focus on development.
The Narendra Modi government is committed to extend help for the development of Karnataka, particularly north Karnataka, he said.
“Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy should drop his plan of village stays and focus on development after holding discussions with state ministers and MPs. Those from Karnataka who have been appointed as Union ministers have been given important portfolios and they are willing to help the state if the state government chalks out projects,” Joshi said.
Earlier in the day, BJP leaders and party workers gave a rousing welcome to Joshi. He planted a sapling at Circuit House and visited Murugha Mutt to take the blessings of pontiff Mallikarjun Swamy.